System for adjusting and fixing sheet-shaped elements for railings

ABSTRACT

A system for adjusting and fixing sheet-shaped elements for railings including containment means for a protective sheet-shaped element which are provided with a channel for housing the sheet-shaped element and adjusting means for adjusting the position of the sheet-shaped element, wherein the adjusting means include at least one resting and retaining element with substantially L-shaped cross-section provided with seats for the passage of two pins and with two planes for the sliding of adjusting elements, in such a way that the combination of the movements of the adjusting elements caused by the pins generates a rotation of the resting and retaining element which in turn causes a rotation of the sheet-shaped element.

This application claims priority to Italian Patent Application102021000007622 filed Mar. 29, 2021, the entirety of which isincorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system for fixing and adjustingsheet-shaped elements for rails, balustrades, dividers and railings ingeneral, wherein the sheet-shaped elements are the protective elementsof said rails, balustrades, dividers and railings.

As known, the railing is a protective structure to avoid the free fallof people and objects from a balcony or a terrace and, in general, fromevery place where there are surfaces that have a difference in height.The railings differ substantially in the type of respective protectiveelements. For example, the balustrades are typically constituted ofcolumn-shaped elements, named “balusters”, resting on a base andconnected above by an horizontal element, called “cymatium”. The railsare instead constituted of vertical pillars, usually made of metal,which support closing elements which are covered on the top by anhandrail.

Moreover, there are railings and dividers whose protective elements aresheet-shaped and in many cases are made of glass plates. In general, therailings provided with protective sheet-shaped elements include aplurality of base elements which are able to retain and support theplates, combined or not combined with a plurality of vertical pillars.The elements or base bodies of the railings are configured to be fixedpermanently to the ground or to the generic installation surface of therailing, like for example the walking area of a balcony or a terrace.

As known, the walking areas of balconies and terraces are built with aslope, in the order of around 1-2 degrees (approx. 2%-3%) in relation toan horizontal plane, to allow the appropriate runoff of rainwater.Moreover, it often happens that the walls to which the railings have tobe connected are not perfectly parallel to the ground due toconstruction defects. As a result, also the elements or base bodies ofthe railings, once they have been installed on the above mentionedsurfaces, are slightly inclined from the horizontal and vertical planes.

On the other hand, the protective elements of the railings, inparticular when they are made in the form of sheet-shaped elements, haveto be perfectly vertical due to aesthetic and safety reasons. Someelements or base bodies of the railings are then provided withmechanisms for adjusting the inclination of the respective protectiveelements.

An example of embodiment of a system for fixing and adjustingsheet-shaped elements for rails, balustrades and railings of known typeis illustrated in the European patent no. 3009580, from which FIG. 1 istaken. The system comprises a plurality of base bodies (10) configuredto be placed and fixed on a generic installation surface, like forexample the walking surface of the balcony of a building, and such thatthey can receive the lower surface of a protective sheet-shaped element(16). Each base body (10) is made in the form of a box profile withsubstantially U-shaped cross-section, open in the upper part and in thelower part provided with one or more fixing means (12), like for examplebolts, on the system installation surface. Inside the box profile atleast one channel (14) is defined in which the lower part of aprotective sheet-shaped element (16) is inserted. On the inner lowersurface of the channel (14) is fitted at least one lower resting element(18) of the protective sheet-shaped element (16), while on both innerlateral surfaces (20, 22) of said channel (14) are fitted respectiveresting, retaining and adjusting lateral elements (24, 26) of theprotective sheet-shaped elements (16). The resting, retaining andadjusting lateral elements (24) provided on the inner lateral surface(20) of the channel (14) are equipped with adjusting and setting means(30) for adjusting the position and/or the inclination of thesheet-shaped element (16) which operate in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to the developing plan of the sheet-shaped element (16).The fixing, adjusting and setting element (30) is accessible from afirst outer side (34) of the channel (14) and by means of a specificadjustment tool (36) it is possible to obtain the correct positionand/or inclination of the protective sheet-shaped element (16). In thisway it is possible to obtain the correct position and/or inclination ofthe protective sheet-shaped element (16) working only from the innerside of a balcony or a terrace. Each base body (10) is providedlaterally and above with shaped grooves (48) to receive one or morelongitudinal covering plates (50) configured to completely cover thebase bodies (10) and the relative inner components, allowing out onlythe protective sheet-shaped elements (16) in the system fittedconfiguration. The system for fixing and adjusting protectivesheet-shaped elements (16) built according to the known art foresees theuse of a plurality of base bodies (10) which have to be correctlyaligned during assembly. To reduce the aesthetic impact of said systemfor fixing and adjusting sheet-shaped elements (16) it is necessary touse specific covering plates or slabs (50) which, being mounted on aplurality of base bodies (10), may not be perfectly aligned andtherefore may compromise the aesthetic appearance. Moreover, theinstallation of protective sheet-formed elements through systemsaccording to the known art requires the repetition of adjustment andcontrol phases to adjust the inclination until the sheet-shaped elementis not correctly aligned. Finally the operator is forced to stay in auncomfortable position for the entire duration of his work, since hemust work on the lower part of the sheet-shaped element in a directionperpendicular to the same element. This entails also the extension ofthe laying time, and consequently an increase in the costs related tothis procedure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to provide a system for fixing andadjusting sheet-shaped elements for rails, balustrades, dividers andrailings in general, which is able to prevent the above mentionedproblems.

An aim of the present invention is to allow the adjustment and controlof the correct inclination of the sheet-shaped element at the same timein such a way as to accelerate the installation phases.

Another aim of the present invention is to provide a system for fixingand adjusting sheet-shaped elements for rails, balustrades, dividers andrailings in general, that allows to fit one or more sheet-shapedelements using a single base body.

A further aim of the present invention is to provide a system for fixingand adjusting sheet-shaped elements for rails, balustrades, dividers andrailings in general, which allows to adjust the position and/orinclination of the protective sheet-shaped elements from the inner sideof the balcony and without affecting the appearance of the frontalsurface of the base body.

Moreover, the possibility to make the adjustment from above allows theoperator to stay in a more comfortable position for the entire durationof the adjustment procedure.

Another aim of the present invention is to provide a system for fixingand adjusting sheet-shaped elements for rails, balustrades, dividers andrailings in general, that does not require the use of protective casingson the frontal surfaces of the base body.

These and other aims according to the present invention are achievedproviding a system for fixing sheet-shaped elements for rails,balustrades, dividers and railings in general as explained in claim 1.

Further characteristics of the invention are highlighted by thedependent claims, which are integral part of the present description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The characteristics and advantages of a system for fixing sheet-shapedelements for rails, balustrades and railings in general according to thepresent invention will become more evident in the following description,given as an example and not for limiting purposes, referring to theattached schematic drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view and a longitudinal section view ofa system for fixing and adjusting sheet-shaped elements of known type;

FIG. 2 illustrates the invention according to a longitudinal sectionview;

FIG. 3 illustrates a detail of the invention according to a lateral viewand a frontal view;

FIG. 4 illustrates a further detail of the invention according to alateral view and a frontal view.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the figures, an example of preferred embodiment of asystem for adjusting and fixing sheet-shaped elements for rails,balustrades, dividers and railings in general is shown according to thepresent invention. The system comprises containment means (10),consisting for example of a base body (100) for at least onesheet-shaped element (160), configured to be placed and fixed on ageneric installation surface of the same system, such as for example thewalking surface of the balcony of a building or one of its verticalwalls.

Each base body (100) is made in the form of box profile withsubstantially U-shaped cross-section, open in the upper part and in thelower part or laterally provided with one or more fixing means known toan industry expert. Inside the box profile it is defined at least onechannel (140) into which adjusting means (20) are inserted, on whichrests the lower part of at least one protective sheet-shaped element(160) that may consist of, for example, one glass plate.

The adjusting means (20) comprise at least one resting and retainingelement (180) with substantially L-shaped cross-section and that isprovided with two inclined surfaces (28) not aligned with each other andwith a convex lower surface (190). Each inclined surface (28) isprovided with an opening with substantially vertical axis for thepassage of one adjusting pin (29) which in turn is coupled to anadjusting element (240), for example by means of an idle screw or amale-female screw type coupling. The adjusting element (240) hassubstantially triangle-shaped cross-section with one surface (31)parallel to a first inner surface (110) of the channel (140) of the basebody (100) and one inclined surface (27) shaped to match the inclinedsurface (28) of the resting and retaining element (180).

The adjusting means (20) are fitted in such a way that are movableinside the channel (140), in such a way that the first inner surface(110) is in contact with the surface (31) of the adjusting element(240). The adjustment of the pins (29) generates an axial displacementof the adjusting element (240) which brings into contact the inclinedsurfaces (27, 28) shaped to match each other of the adjusting element(240) and of the resting and retaining element (180), causing adisplacement in a substantially horizontal direction of the resting andretaining element (180). The combined adjustment of two adjustingelements (240) of a single resting and retaining element (180) causestwo different displacements which generate a rotation of the resting andretaining element (180) about a substantially vertical plane and also atranslation in such a way as to obtain the engagement by contrast of thesheet-shaped element (160) with a second inner surface (130) of thechannel (140).

The second inner surface (130) of the channel (140) has a convex shapein such a way as to provide a support base for fixing the protectivesheet-shaped element (160) when said element is inclined from the firstinner surface (110) of the channel (140). On said convex surface thereis at least one yielding element (530) to prevent the direct contact andthe resulting damage of the sheet-shaped element (160) with the basebody (100). The yielding element (530) may also comprise a sealinggasket configured to abut against the sheet-shaped element (160) and toprevent infiltrations of water inside the base body (100).

Each pin (29) comprises one head (320) accessible from the upper side ofthe base body (100): in this way it is possible, by means of a specificadjustment tool, to adjust and fix the sheet-shaped element (160). Theposition of the heads (320) of the pins (29) allows the operator thatinstalls the sheet-shaped element (160) to adjust and fix said elementat the same time since during the procedure it is possible to check theplumbing of the sheet-shaped element (160), for example, by means of abubble level placed on the upper surface of said element. Moreover, theposition of the head (320) of the pin (29) allows the operator toperform the adjustment and fixing in a much more comfortable positioncompared to known solutions.

The base body (100) is provided above with shaped grooves (480) forreceiving, with sliding or snap coupling, one or more longitudinalcovering profiles (500) configured to completely cover the upper part ofthe base body (100) and the relative inner components, allowing out onlythe protective sheet-shaped elements (160) in the system fittedconfiguration. Each longitudinal covering profile (500) can be providedwith a respective sealing gasket (520) configured to abut against theprotective sheet-shaped elements (160) and thus to prevent infiltrationsof water inside the base bodies (100).

The assembly of the system for fixing and adjusting sheet-shapedelements for railings according to the present invention takes place asfollows. A first step foresees the resting and then the fixing of one ormore base bodies (100) on the system installation surface. The numberand the arrangement of the base bodies (100) to be installed will dependon the design conditions of the railing. After the installation of thebase bodies (100) on the surface, takes place the introduction insequence, inside the channel (140) of the base body (100), of theyielding element (530), of one or more systems of adjusting means (20)and lastly of the protective sheet-shaped elements (160) necessary forcompleting the railing. Once a single protective sheet-shaped element(160) has been inserted inside the channel (140) and rests on the lowersurface of the resting and retaining element (180), then the adjustmentand the fixing are carried out. The action of the adjustment tools onthe heads of the pins (29) allows to adjust the relative position of theprotective sheet-shaped element (160) in relation to the base body(100), thanks to the axial displacement of the adjusting elements (240).

The particular shapes and functionalities of these components of thesystem allow a corresponding oscillation of the protective sheet-shapedelement (160) about a vertical plane, thus obtaining the inclination andthe plumbing of said protective sheet-shaped element (160) with aminimum effort on the adjusting tools and allowing it to be fixedcreating an engagement by contrast of the sheet-shaped element (160)against the convex surface (130) of the base body (100). The fixing andadjusting operation can be performed by the operator staying standing bymeans of a specific tool provided with an extension. In this workingposition, the operator is able to check the plumbing of the sheet-shapedelement (160) and to perform the fixing of the same.

It has thus been seen that the system for fixing sheet-shaped elements(160) for railings in general according to the present inventionachieves the purposes highlighted above. The system for fixingsheet-shaped elements (160) for railings in general according to thepresent invention allows to insert and fix every single sheet-shapedelement (160) in a corresponding base body (100), adjusting completelyits inclination and performing the fixing at the same time, as well asallowing the operator to work in a comfortable position.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for adjusting and fixing sheet-shapedelements for railings and dividers comprising: containment means for aprotective sheet-shaped element which are provided with a channel forhousing the sheet-shaped element; adjusting means for adjusting theposition of the sheet-shaped element; wherein: the adjusting meanscomprise at least one resting and retaining element with substantiallyL-shaped cross-section provided with seats for the passage of two pinsand with two planes for the sliding of adjusting elements, in such a waythat the combination of the movements of the adjusting elements causedby the pins generates a rotation of the resting and retaining elementwhich in turn causes a rotation of the sheet-shaped element.
 2. Thesystem according to claim 1, wherein the containment means comprise atleast one base body with length equal to or greater than the length ofthe sheet-shaped element in the longitudinal direction.
 3. The systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the base body comprises a convex innersurface to allow adjusting and clamping of the sheet-shaped element. 4.The system according to claim 3, wherein the convex lateral surfacecomprises at least one yielding element suitable for preventing directcontact between the sheet-shaped element and the convex inner surface.5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the resting and retainingelement comprises a convex lower surface such that it allows a rotationof the resting and retaining element about a substantially verticalplane.
 6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting elementcomprises a flat surface, parallel to an inner surface of the channel ofthe base body, and an inclined surface.
 7. The system according to claim1, wherein the resting and retaining element comprises at least oneinclined surface shaped to match the inclined surface of the adjustingelement.
 8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the pins areoperatively coupled to the adjusting element by means of a male-femalescrew type coupling and are provided with a head accessible from theupper side of the channel.
 9. The system according to claim 1, whereinthe axis of the pin lies in a plane parallel to the inner surface of thechannel.
 10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the base body ismade of metal material, for example aluminium.
 11. The system accordingto claim 1, wherein the resting and retaining element is fitted in sucha way that it is movable on the inner lower surface of the channel. 12.The system according to claim 1, wherein the top of each base body isprovided with a shaped profile for receiving one or more longitudinalcovering profiles configured to completely cover the upper surface ofthe base body and the relative inner components, allowing out only thesheet-shaped elements in the system fitted configuration.
 13. The systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal covering profile isprovided with a respective sealing gasket configured to abut against thesheet-shaped elements and to prevent infiltrations of water inside thebase body.
 14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the base body isprovided with a sealing gasket configured to abut against thesheet-shaped elements and to prevent infiltrations of water inside thebase body.
 15. A method for fitting railings with a system for fixingand adjusting sheet-shaped elements according to claim 1, comprising thesteps of: resting and then fixing one or more base bodies on a genericsystem installation surface; inserting a gasket on the base bodies;inserting a plurality of resting and retaining elements inside thechannels of the base bodies complete with adjusting elements;introducing sheet-shaped elements inside the resting and retainingelements which are necessary for completing the railing; adjusting andclamping the adjusting elements for the sheet-shaped element by actingon the heads of the pins in such a way that the rotation of the restingand retaining element about the convex surface allows the plumbing ofthe sheet-shaped element; inserting one or more longitudinal coveringprofiles which are complete with sealing gaskets.